Fernando Villavicencio assassination: suspects are Colombian, police say

Ecuadorean police have announced that one suspect has been killed and six others have been arrested in connection with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The suspects are all Colombian nationals, and the government is actively pursuing the “intellectual authors” of the murder. The killing, which occurred less than two weeks before the election, has had a significant impact on the country, leading some candidates to suspend their campaigns and bringing attention to the issue of rising violence. Villavicencio, known for his criticism of corruption and organized crime, was killed after leaving a campaign event in Quito. The deceased suspect died from injuries sustained in a shoot-out, and nine others, including a candidate for the legislature and two police officers, were injured. The government has revealed that the dead suspect had previously been arrested on weapons charges in July, and the six detained individuals are members of organized crime groups. Interior Minister Juan Zapata has stated that the national police will use all available resources to uncover the motive and identify the intellectual authors of the crime. The involvement of Colombian nationals in the assassination is reminiscent of the 2021 killing of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise, where 26 Colombians and two Haitian-Americans were involved. Despite the crime being seen as an attempt to sabotage the election, President Guillermo Lasso has confirmed that voting will proceed as planned on August 20, albeit under a national state of emergency. Lasso has declared three days of mourning and has requested assistance from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the investigation. Violence in Ecuador has been on the rise in recent years, particularly in cities along drug-trafficking routes, causing fear among citizens. Similar issues have been observed in other Latin American countries since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The armed forces have been deployed throughout the country to ensure security during the electoral process. Villavicencio’s party, Movimiento Construye, has rejected the politicization of his death and called for a swift investigation. The party has condemned an unverified video circulating on social media, allegedly from a gang called Los Lobos, claiming responsibility for the assassination and making false allegations against Villavicencio. The authenticity and origin of the video have not been confirmed. Los Lobos is a large gang active in Ecuador’s violent prison system. Former President Rafael Correa, who faced criticism from Villavicencio during his time in office, initially reposted the video but later stated that it was fake. Villavicencio had previously been sentenced to prison for defamation against Correa but had fled to Indigenous territory within Ecuador and later received asylum in Peru. He returned to Ecuador after Correa left office. Candidate Luisa Gonzalez, running for Correa’s party, expressed horror at the killing but did not suspend her campaign. Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez and law-and-order candidate Jan Topic both suspended their campaigns, while businessman Otto Sonnenholzner called on the government to take action. Perez has proposed a meeting with the other candidates and the Catholic Church to discuss a national security agreement. Villavicencio’s party had previously discussed the possibility of suspending campaigning due to recent political violence, including the murder of the mayor of Manta in July. However, Villavicencio opposed a suspension, considering it an act of cowardice. The party can choose another candidate, but ballots have already been printed with Villavicencio’s name and photo. The party has requested international oversight of the investigation and will take time to mourn before making decisions about the vote. Villavicencio, who had three layers of security, had reported an oil business to the attorney general’s office the day before his assassination. Ecuador has experienced a high number of violent deaths this year, with over 3,500 reported in the first half of the year, and the majority occurring in Guayaquil, the largest city. President Lasso, who called for early elections amid an impeachment bid against him, has faced criticism for failing to address the violence effectively, despite authorizing soldiers to patrol the streets and use their weapons against criminals. The government attributes the bloodshed to criminal infighting over control of drug trafficking routes. In addition to security concerns, employment and migration are significant issues in the presidential race. Villavicencio had 7.5% support in polls, placing him fifth out of eight candidates. His body will be released to two individuals chosen by his wife, including his lawyer. The assassination has been condemned by numerous countries, and calls for a thorough investigation have been made.